Why Gangnam Style Is Officially Over (Already!)

Korean rapper Psy's viral hit may have jumped the shark

By John Boone Sep 21, 2012 12:45 PMTags
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RIP, "Gangnam Style"! Because, as misty eyed as it makes us to admit, we are officially over the latest viral video to sweep the Internet...and the world!

"Gangnam Style," the amazing song-and-dance number accompanied by an even more amazing music video skyrocketed straight out of Korea and in to our hearts. But now, as we let out an exasperated sigh with every PSY parody the hits the Net, it's time we take a look back at the short life and quicker death of Gangnam.

To make it easier for you to cope with, we've broken it down into The Five Steps of Viral Shark-Jumping.

Step One: Amazement

"Have you seen this?!?!" millions of people wrote about PSY's music video as it was uploaded en mass to Twitter, Facebook and just about every single social media platform known to man (and probably some intergalactic alien transmissions too).

And if you hadn't, you needed to: The video, which was originally uploaded in July, features the Korean rapper wearing slick shades as he danced his signature Gangnam moves in a barn, a beach, a bus and about a bajillion other places.

It was everything that a music video should be. Which is why it went viral immediately (at last check, the video had racked up over 220 million views on YouTube and the single was No. 1 on Amazon).

PSY gives Ellen DeGeneres and Britney Spears dance lessons

Step Two: Acceptance

Like with every video worthy of its viral status, the public embraced "Gangnam"...with a vengeance! And when it rains, it pours parody videos. PSY got spoofed by nearly everyone: Sexy Navy boys in full regalia, fictional Middle-earth-dwelling wizards, college mascots and even My Little Ponies.

But if a video goes viral and no one spoofs it on their wedding day, does it ever really go viral at all? Heck no! That much we learned from all those Chris Brown wedding recreations (right, The Office?). And Psy got his wedding day debut courtesy of San Franciscans Stefani and Jeremy. Solid production value, ya crazy newlyweds!

Gangnam parodying isn't without its risks though, as learned by our favorite group of dancing lifeguards. The El Monte, Calif., group has racked up over a million and a half views on YouTube for their impressive aquatic rendition (complete with underwater Gangnam-ing!) but also got fired for it. Worth it? We think so!

Step Three: Celebration

Once the public loves something, it's only a matter of time before Hollywood gets in on the action. While we're a little surprised that none of the big studios have optioned a "Gangnam Style" biopic (we're still not sure that the networks aren't generating a pilot right now), plenty of stars got in on the action, naturally.

Which means PSY has been everywhere. The rapper popped up at the VMAs, where he traded barbs with host Kevin Hart and got to perform his signature boogie in front of millions of MTV viewers (not to mention stars like Rihanna and Katy Perry). He also got to give the biggest pop star, Britney Spears, a one-on-one tutorial when they appeared on Ellen.

But how do you know when you've truly made it as a viral video? A Saturday Night Live spoof, of course, which "Gangnam Style" got in the season 38 premiere, when host Seth MacFarlane introduced Bobby Moynihan as a dead ringer for the rapper. But wait: PSY even got a super-charged cameo himself! Can you get any bigger than that?

Step Four: Exhaustion

No. Which is why, following an SNL spoof, you really have nowhere to go but down. And fast.

Sure, we love Jersey Shore as next as the next dude and Vinny Guadagnino's rendition was cute enough, what with his entourage of pint-sized backup dancers. But it's nothing we haven't seen before. Couldn't he have at least got Snooki's baby meatball to fist bump from his crib for it?!

Which is the point: We're so inundated with Gangnam galore that it'll take something seriously out there to grab our attention. We need glitz! We need controversy! We need Amanda Bynes and Lindsay Lohan Gangnaming with a slew of LAPD and NYPD officers!

"Gangnam Style" takes the world by storm!

Step Five: Over It

And since that doesn't seem like it will be happening anytime soon, we're calling it: "Gangnam Style" has officially jumped the shark.

But fear not, PSY, you'll go to that great viral video place in the sky (or Google Archives, whatever) along with the likes of Rebecca Black's "Friday" (remember her?!) and that "Charlie Bit Me" kid (aww, he's still cute actually). And who knows, maybe one day there will be a Step Six: Nostalgia!

So...who's ready to go viral next?!